Pedosphere 23(4): 464--471, 2013
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2013 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Influence of accompanying anions on potassium retention and leaching in potato growing alluvial soils |
V. SHARMA and K. N. SHARMA |
| Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004 (India) |
| ABSTRACT |
| A column study was carried out to assess the influence of accompanying anions on potassium (K) leaching at potato growing sites with different soil textures (sandy loam and clay loam) in northwestern India. Potassium was applied in the top 15 cm layer of soil column at 30 and 60 mg K kg-1 through different sources having different accompanying anions (Cl-, SO42-, NO3- and H2PO4-). Maximum K was retained in the top 0--15 cm layer with a sharp decrease in K content occurring in 15--30 cm layer of the soil column. The trend was similar for both levels of applied K as well as frequency of leaching and soil type. The decrease of K content in soil column after four leaching events was maximum in case of Khanaura sandy loam, while only minor decrease was observed in Hundowal clay loam when K was applied at 60 mg K kg-1, indicating higher potential of clay rich soil to adsorb K. In general, the K leaching in presence of the accompanying anions followed the order of SO42- ≤ H2PO42- < NO3- = Cl-. Highest 1 mol L-1 CH3COONH4-extractable K was retained when K was applied along with SO42- and H2PO4- anions, and the least was retained when accompanying anion was Cl-1. The influence of anions was more pronounced in the light textured soil and at high amounts of K application. Higher levels of K application resulted in higher losses of K, especially in sandy loam soil as observed from the leachate concentration. Among the different K sources, the maximum amount of K leaching was noticed in the soil column amended with KCl. After four leachings, the maximum amount of K leached out was 6.40 mg L-1 in Hundowal clay loam and 9.29 mg L-1 in Khanaura sandy loam at 60 mg K kg-1 of soil application through KCl. These concentrations were lower than the recommended guideline of the World Health Organisation (12.00 mg L-1). |
| Key Words: column study, leaching events, potassium application, potassium sources, soil texture |
| Citation: Sharma, V. and Sharma, K. N. 2013. Influence of accompanying anions on potassium retention and leaching in potato growing alluvial soils. Pedosphere. 23(4): 464-471. |
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